During the last week of September, social enterprise hub Flywheel announced its accelerator had a new cohort of five.
While the SECincy Elevator was initially modeled after other area accelerators, such as The Brandery and Ocean, its website calls it the "first and only of its kind" in the area, specifically geared at social entrepreneurs.
It boasts a 15-week program, based out of Union Hall, which looks to help participants upgrade their product or service "to the next level." It does this via mentorship, special curriculum, peer-to-peer work and capital access, as well as a demo day (scheduled for Jan. 9). So far, the accelerator has had two cohorts and graduated 11 nonprofits, like La Soupe, an entity that looks to use food waste to help better feed the food insecure.
"Our founders are working to solve problems in a wide variety of industries and social sectors, but they all exemplify the passion and drive of social entrepreneurs that make our programs so exciting," said Josie Dalton, program manager at Flywheel. "We are thrilled by the opportunity to support them as they develop their business models and connect more deeply with the Cincinnati startup ecosystem. This cohort is determined to make a difference, and we're here to help them maximize their impact and sustainability."
As for this next cohort, we highlight the five accepted participants below. All descriptions and additional information were provided by the accelerator.
inGirls
- Founders: Rita David and Richard Zreik
- Business Model: "inGirls coordinates business innovation workshops inwhich girls ages 7-17 participate in hands-on consulting challenges for small- and medium-sized, women-owned companies. Their customers are these companies. inGirls delivers value to their customer not only through the direct products of the innovation workshops, but also by creating and facilitating opportunities for the customer-company to contribute to the empowerment and education of young girls."
- Social Impact: "inGirls provides girls ages 7-17 with real-world entrepreneurial experiences that give them confidence to be future business leaders and enables their education by awarding monetary prizes."
Strong Woman Enterprises
- Founders: Jenny Jones, Bralynda Watkins and Viann Barnett (supported by Beth Schwartz)
- Business Model: "Strong Woman Enterprises aims to brand, merchandize and sell products that promote the Strong Woman message. The specific products remain to be determined, but the brand/message reflects the strong women of Cincinnati Union Bethel’s Off the Streets program, which provides support for women in addiction recovery and/or rescued from human trafficking."
- Social Impact: "The revenue generated from the retail of Strong Woman products will support Cincinnati Union Bethel’s Off the Streets program, and the company will provide job training and profit sharing opportunities for some of the women in the Off the Streets program."
Last Mile Food Rescue
- Founder: Jeffrey Miller
- Business Model: "Last Mile Food Rescue aims to bridge a current gap in food-rescue solutions within the “last mile,” where most food waste occurs due to simple logistical shortcomings. Through a peer network of local volunteer drivers (think Uber, but for the delivery of rescued food donations), LMFR moves usable food that would otherwise be discarded from grocer/retailer partners to those in need."
- Social Impact: "Last Mile Food Rescue saves consumable food that would otherwise be wasted and delivers it those who need it most."
Screen Education
- Founder: Michael Mercier
- Business Model: "Screen Education uses market research methods to draw original insights on smartphone addiction and related issues at the intersection of technology and human wellness. Michael aims to deliver these insights through seminars/speaking engagements, as well as other forms of curated content. His potential customers include school districts, summer camps and other youth organizations, as well as companies concerned with employee wellness and productivity."
- Social Impact: "Screen Education informs and educates its audiences about the causes, characteristics and effects of smartphone addiction, identifies social problems resulting from smartphone addiction and advances potential solutions to those problems."
Community Happens Here
- Founder: Ruth Anne Wolfe
- Business Model: "Community Happens Here is a co-working space in the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood, designed and intentionally facilitated to promote connections between its members across socioeconomic, racial and other types of difference. CHH will offer memberships in the space, conference room rental and event space rental. Community Happens Here will also host programming designed to promote entrepreneurship and community-building for members, neighborhood residents and anyone who wants to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds."
- Social Impact: "Community Happens Here aims to foster meaningful connections, relationships and collaboration between individuals of differing backgrounds (socioeconomic, racial, etc.) and create equitable opportunities for entrepreneurship education, community organizing and more within the CHH space and Pleasant Ridge neighborhood."
